Last weekend we were blessed with two momentous occasions. First, on Saturday, our daughter, Mackenzie Rose, was confirmed. She chose Saint Gianna as her confirmation saint, because of her decision to save her child's life over her own. She wrote a report about St. Gianna a few years ago, as a homeschool assignment.
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
by Mackenzie Rose Jeffery
Gianna wanted to go live with her brother, a missionary priest in Brazil, where she was going to offer her medical experience in gynecology to poor women. But because of her chronic ill health, this was almost impossible to achieve. So she continued in her Practice in Italy.
In 1954 Gianna met Pietro Molla, and they were soon married in September 1955. The couple had three children from the year 1956-1959. In 1961, Gianna was expecting another child. During the second month, Gianna developed a fibroma on her uterus. The Doctors gave her three choices to cure her:
1. Abortion, 2. A complete hysterectomy 3. Removal of the fibroma
She chose the removal of the fibroma, and on April 21, 1962, Good Friday of that year, Gianna went to the hospital and gave birth to a happy, healthy Baby. However, Gianna continued to have pain and died 7 days after birth. Gianna was officially canonized as a Saint May 16, 2004. Her husband and last child, Gianna were present at her canonization. Her Feast day is April 28, and she is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, preborn children.
I love it when my kids find a saint who really speaks to their hearts. They are all named for saints, but when they find one whose story really speaks to them, you know it is something special. Mackenzie loves St. Gianna, and Blessed Kateri, as well. Liz has always loved St. Bernadette, and I think the fact that she came into the church at about the same age as Bernadette was when she first saw Our Lady of Lourdes is special to her. Meg has always, always loved St. Joan of Arc. She loved dressing up as Saint Joan for All Saints parties, loves that such a young woman, by the Grace and Hand of God, was able to help save her country. Kolbe has always, always loved the story of St. Maximillian Kolbe, but it will be interesting to see if that is who he chooses when it is time for his Confirmation!
In 1954 Gianna met Pietro Molla, and they were soon married in September 1955. The couple had three children from the year 1956-1959. In 1961, Gianna was expecting another child. During the second month, Gianna developed a fibroma on her uterus. The Doctors gave her three choices to cure her:
1. Abortion, 2. A complete hysterectomy 3. Removal of the fibroma
She chose the removal of the fibroma, and on April 21, 1962, Good Friday of that year, Gianna went to the hospital and gave birth to a happy, healthy Baby. However, Gianna continued to have pain and died 7 days after birth. Gianna was officially canonized as a Saint May 16, 2004. Her husband and last child, Gianna were present at her canonization. Her Feast day is April 28, and she is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, preborn children.
I love it when my kids find a saint who really speaks to their hearts. They are all named for saints, but when they find one whose story really speaks to them, you know it is something special. Mackenzie loves St. Gianna, and Blessed Kateri, as well. Liz has always loved St. Bernadette, and I think the fact that she came into the church at about the same age as Bernadette was when she first saw Our Lady of Lourdes is special to her. Meg has always, always loved St. Joan of Arc. She loved dressing up as Saint Joan for All Saints parties, loves that such a young woman, by the Grace and Hand of God, was able to help save her country. Kolbe has always, always loved the story of St. Maximillian Kolbe, but it will be interesting to see if that is who he chooses when it is time for his Confirmation!
Saturday night, our family assembled at church to watch Mackenzie be confirmed in the Catholic faith, with Meg as her sponsor, and both her godparents present to support her. My sisters and brother and parents were all there to congratulate her and tell her how proud they are of her. We were rushed along to get photos with the Bishop, so this was the only shot I was able to get, Mackenzie with her godparents, cousin Jaimie and Uncle Geoff. (I need some sort of photo editing software! This needs cropped!)
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| Kenzie and two of her favorite people, Abbey and Becca |
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| Kolbe and his godparents cousin David and cousin Stacy |
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| Jonah (alterboy) lighting Kolbe's candle |
Sunday afternoon we all gathered at church once again to celebrate our Kolbe Thomas' First Holy Communion. This is always a big deal in the Catholic faith, but for this child, it was an even bigger deal. He seems to have an understanding and desire for the Eucharist that is uncommon among such young children. He has literally been counting down the days, and he did not take one thing about his preparation for this sacrament lightly. He was so nervous! He wanted everything to be just right, and it was. He did beautifully. He didn't forget a single thing. I am so happy for him!
We were so blessed that family traveled from near and far to celebrate with us. We had a big dinner after Kolbe's Mass for both events. So we ate and opened gifts and had cake. There must always be cake, apparently!
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| cookies from www.kariskitchen.com Yum! |
Kenzie's best friend, Becca was also Confirmed at the same Mass, so our families celebrated together! Becca chose St.Rita as her Confirmation saint. Becca's family has been like our very own family. She and her sisters have grown up with my kids, especially my girls, and they have been friends for years and years. I love that my daughters have such lovely girls to grow up with. It's been a huge blessing to us.
Our church family has provided dear, dear friends, and for that I have always been very thankful.
So, our weekend was full of many blessings, a little chaos, lots of love, and plenty of cake to go around. I won't have any children making sacraments for a couple of years now, and it will be nice to have a break, but when all the planning and food preparation and all of that is taken care of, it is wonderful to look around and see the faces of so many people whom I love so much. I am thankful that they all came and shared the weekend with us!
Tears! Very lovely :)
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